Electrolytic apparatus.



PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

P. A. DECKER.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 29, 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOH 7 J? W A TTOBI/EY.

PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

F. A. DECKER.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 29,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

28 nvvmron OZ. 71- lgu n/l A TTOHNE r.

PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

P. A. DECKER.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. '29. 1904.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 3.

IIIIIIIII/IIA INVENTUR y/w k J- M er aid 21- M I WITNESSES: 5 I

A TTOH/IEY.

Patented May 16, 1905.

PATENT Fries.

FRANK A. DECKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DECKERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,721, dated May 16,1905.

Applicationfiled February 29. 1904. Serial No, 195,706.

To all whmn it Huey concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. DECKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in ElectrolyticApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrolytic apparatus designed for therecovery of Zinc, mag- IO nesium, or other substances from acid orneutral solutions, such as spent battery fluids and solutions obtainedin the reduction of metal from its ores or scrap.

In existing and proposed forms of apparatus in which zinc, magnesium, orother substances are deposited in mercury to be separated therefrom orleft in the form of amalgam the mechanical'and electrochemicaldifficulties of operation are excessive from an economical standpoint.By means of my cell a very complete and simple removal of the depositedsubstances may be effected, with the minimum loss of mercury andspilling of the electrolytic solution. The cell is very compact becauseof the close proximity of the electrodes, insuring low internalresistance and low voltage, and a very high ampere efliciency can beobtained because of the immediate withdrawal of the deposit from contactwith the solution.

The apparatus comprises a cell divided into two compartments by means ofa porous partition of low resistence to the electric current andoffering relatively high resistance to diffusion of liquids. Thisarrangement is used, however, only in cases where a substance in theelectrolytic solution or the electrolyte itself is chemically altered byoxidation or becoming too acid by the electronegative element separatedat the positive pole of the cell. \Nhen this is not the case, as when azinc-sulfate solution is electrolyzed with an anode capable of taking upthe negative element, such as lead, a cell of one compartment may 45 beused.

The positive electrode of the cell may be of carbon, peroxid of lead,01' other suitable material. The negative electrode is formed by areceptacle or tray or a series thereof of usual material, arranged oneabove the other, containing a liquid metal (mercury) physically andelectrically connected together, permitting the ready removal ofdeposits in the tray from the exterior without disturbing the cell, theconstruction providing a sectional Wall having the tray or traysprojecting on either side thereof and the wall-opening sealed by themercury contained in the trays.

The principle employed in this apparatus may be used for theelectrolysis of solutions of chlorid, sulfate, and sulfite of zinc,salts of magnesium, sodium, and potassium,spent battery solutionscontaining salts of zinc mixed with reduced salts of depolarizers, suchas bichromates reduced to chromium salts or for the recovery of gold andsilver. In cases such as the regeneration of battery solutions thedepolarizer, as chromic acid, may be regenerated at the same time.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of acell made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a verticalsectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a sideelevation, partially in section, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4represents a perspective view of a receptacle or tray. Fig. 5 representsa top view, and Fig. 6 represents a side view, of the end of aconductor. Fig. 7 represents a sectional top plan View, and Fig. 8represents a vertical central section, of a modified form of theinvention. Fig. 9 represents a vertical central section of a tray usedin the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 represents a sideelevation, partially in section, taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 11, ofan additional form of the invention; and Fig. 11 represents a sectionalview taken on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, the base 1 has the sides 2and the back 3 connected therewith, forming cell-walls of any usualmaterial, the base having the seat 4 and the sides having the seats 5for the reception of the porous partitions or diaphragm 6, preferably ofclay. A compartment? is thus formed which contains the electrode 8 andthe solution 9, the compartment being drained by the faucet 10. A secondcompartment 11 is produced by the tier of receptacles or trays 12, eachhaving the rectangular ends 13, provided with the notches 14 and thedepending wall sections or aprons 15, the aprons and trays forming anouter wall having openings with receptacles therein. The bottom tray hasits apron inserted in the seat 16 of the base, While its ends rest onthe base and are secured to the side walls of the cell. The higher trayshave their ends supported on the ends of the lower and connected to theside walls, while their aprons are seated in the notches in the ends ofthe lower trays, the aprons of the higher trays extending into theinteriors of the lower. The top tray receives the separate apron 15,which is connected with the side walls of the cell. A tube 17 extendsfrom the bottom to the top of each of the trays, providing a passagethrough the trays for the better circulation of gas and fluid containedin the compartment 11. This compartment is drained by the faucet 18 inthe bottom thereof. A tube 19 extends through the bottom to the desiredheight for the surface of the mercury to be maintained in each tray,excepting the lower tray, which has the drainage-faucet 20, extendingtherefrom through the bottom of the cell. As the upper tray receivesmercury from the faucet '20, means are provided for effecting thecirculation of the mercury through the trays. The tubes 17 and 19 arepreferably placed at opposite ends of the receptive trays and theirpositions are transposed in the alternating trays to provide acircuitous circulation. The tray-bottom 12 extends downwardly andoutwardly to meet the inclined wall 12 at the apex 12, by which thedeepest part of the tray lies outside of the apron therein or outside ofthe cell wall and the deposits gravitating thereto may be removedwithout disturbing the apparatus. The receptive aprons 15 15 have theconductors 21 fixed thereto and dipping into the mercury beneath them,the respective conductors having the seats 22 and binding-screws 23 forengaging the conductor- 24, by which they are united into an electrodedipping into the mercury. It will be seen that the parts are readilyremovable or changeable, that the diaphragm 6 may be dispensed with inthe use of the cell for a single fluid, and that both the deposits andfluids may readily be removed.

As shown in Figs..7, 8, and 9, the receptacles or trays 25 are circularin form and have the circular wall sections or aprons 26 dependingtherefrom, the bottom tray having its apron seated in the base 27, thehigher trays having their aprons dipping into the mercury contained inthe lower, while the highest tray has an apron 26 dipping therein. Theaprons which dip into trays below them have the feet 28 thereon, whichrest upon the bottoms of the lower trays. Conductors 29, fixed on theaprons and dipping into the mercury in the trays beneath them, carry theconducting-arms 30, connected by the conducting-rod 31, providing anelectrode con-' nected with the mercury in each of the trays. Each ofthe trays has the circular opening 32 therein, through which thecylindrical diaphragm 33 passes and rests upon the base, forming acompartment 34, drained through the passage 35, the diaphragm with thetrays and their aprons forming a compartment or compartments 36, drainedby the faucet 37. The compartment 34 contains the electrode 34. Themercury may be drawn off from the bottom tray by the faucet 38, whileits level in the higher trays is regulated by the overflow-tubes 39, andas the faucet 38 supplies mercury to the upper tray provision is thusmade for the circulation of mercury through the trays. The several traysalso have the tubes for the circulation of gas and fluid. The tubes 39and 40 are staggered, as previously described, for effecting a bettercirculation. The circular openings 33 are provided with grooves 33 cutin their respective peripheries to facilitate the escape of gases.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the cell, having the base 41 and the walls42 43 44,'is provided at the bottom with the receptacle or tray 45,which communicates with the interior of the cell and projects beyond itswall 44, the lower section of the latter wall dipping into the mercurycontained in the tray and acting as a seal for the opening to hold theacid in the cell. The cylinders 46, having the journals 46, are locatedin the trough beneath the wall 44, and the cylinders 47, having thejournals 47 are located above the wall. These cylinders, revolved in anysuitable manner, carry the combined conductors and conveyers 48,preferably copper belts, which move through the battery solution and themercury seal, the deposits in the trough amalgamating and passing withthe conveyers upward through the cell, over the upper cylinders, anddown through the brushing'or wiping devices 48, which removes thedeposits and cleans the surface of the conveyer, so that it passes intothe mercury in a condition effective for taking up the deposits. Thetrough has fixed on its inner surface the electrode 49, immersed in themercury contained therein, while the acid-compartment 50, formed by thediaphragm 51, contains the electrode 52.

It will be seen that ineach form of the apparatus the vessel containingthe electrolytic solution has an opening therethrough sealed by mercurycontained in a receptacle to which access may be had from the exteriorof the cell and the deposits removed without disturbing the apparatus.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In an electrolytic apparatus,a cell provided with an outer wall having an opening therethrough and areceptacle located in said opening, said receptacle being adapted forholding afluid seal for said opening, substantially as specified.

2. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell provided with an outer wallhaving an opening therethrough and a receptacle located in said openingcontaining a fluid for sealing the same, a section of said Wallextending into said receptacle, substantially as specified.

3. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell provided with a wall having anopening therethrough, and a receptacle in said opening projecting oneither side of said wall, said receptacle having its deepest portionoutside of said wall, substantially as specified.

t. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell comprising a vessel forcontaining an electrolytic solution, said vessel having an aperturetherethrough, and a receptacle for containing mercury, said receptaclebeing located in said aperture and having a bottom inclined downwardlyand outwardly from the interior of said cell, substantially asspecified.

5. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell having a fluid-compartment, anopening through the casing of said compartment, a receptacle containingmercury in contact with the fluid in said compartment and sealing saidopening, said receptacle extending beyond said compartment, and meansfor circulating said mercury, substantially as specified.

6. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell having an outer wall comprisinga series of receptacles and a series of aprons dipping into saidreceptacles, substantially as specified.

7 In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell comprising a fluid-compartmenthaving an opening therethrough, a sealing and depositing receptacle insaid opening having a section of the Wall of said compartment extendingtherein, an electrode in said cell, and a second electrode in saidreceptacle, substantially as speci- 8. In an electrolytic apparatus, acell hav-, ing a sectional outer wall, apertures between the sections ofsaid wall, receptacles located in said apertures, and electrodessupported by the sections of said wall and extending into saidreceptacles, substantially as specified.

9. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell having a sectional outer wall,apertures between the sections of said wall, receptacles located in saidapertures, an electrode member in each of said apertures, an electrodein said cell, and means for circulating a sealing and amalgamating fluidthrough said receptacles, substantially as specified.

10. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell comprising an apertured wallhaving therein a series of superposed trays, each tray having anoverflow-tube extending above and through the bottom thereof,substantially as specified.

11. In an electrolytic apparatus, a cell provided with a wall having anaperture therein, a receptacle located in said aperture and adapted forholding a fluid seal therefor, in combination with a diaphragm and acompartment separated thereby from said receptacle, substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I havehereunto set my hand, this 27th day ofFebruary, 1904:, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. DECKER.

In presence of THOMAS S. GATES, UTLEY E. CRANE, J r.

